At Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com,
we provide real world tips that help professional truck drivers save
hard-earned money and personal reporting about products and services
for use on the road.

Did you know
that our site is not just
about what we have found works for us?

That's right. If you as a professional truck
driver have a great money saving tip, please share it on our
site. It's a two-way street that we describe as:

Get
and share
great money saving tips
for truck drivers right here.

With your help, we're looking to expand our website to
provide money saving information on lots of different topics,
information that provides tangible value to you and
other professional drivers everywhere.

As a service to you, we have completed the reviews
listed below since our last newsletter.

Please be aware that we perform reviews based on our own
personal set of expectations. We fully recognize that what one driver
expects, another may not and vice versa. If you, as a professional
driver, disagree with a review,
please feel free to submit one of your own.

Below are the "bloglets" (from newest to oldest) we have
published on our Truckers'
Savings Blog since our last email newsletter. They contain
the titles and snippets of articles together with links to the original
sources so that you can learn more. Each of these entries was
accompanied by a link so that readers could read the entire article.

Through this blog, we send news about opportunities for
saving money or getting rebates; share articles revealing how drivers
saved money or lost money (as examples to learn from); and alert
drivers to situations to be aware of that could cost them money.

July 1st laws cover heavy trucks, ticket quotas and
indemnification:
On Thursday, July 1, a variety of new state laws that affect truckers
are slated to be implemented. Among them are laws that allow heavier
trucks, prohibit indemnification agreements and ticket quotas. ... Also
taking effect in the Sunshine State is a rule allowing a weight
allowance for auxiliary power units. The maximum gross vehicle, axle
weight limit is being increased for large trucks equipped with
idle-reduction technology. Trucks equipped with APUs will be authorized
to weigh up to an additional 400 pounds. ...

Vacu-Lug new retread tyres saves 9 [percent] on fuel
costs
According to the Vacu-Lug their new Duramold retread tyres can help
reduce a fleet operators fuel consumption by as much as nine per cent.
... Tim Hercock, Vacu-Lug Tyres MD, says: "A reduction of 10 [percent]
of rolling resistance on a complete vehicle results in a 3 [percent]
reduction in fuel consumption. Therefore, if the potential 30 [percent]
improvement, as determined in the laboratory, is translated through the
use of the above formula, operators could theoretically see fuel
consumption decrease by as much as 9 [percent]." ...

Freightliner showcases hybrids at renewable energy
event
Freightliner Trucks showcased a pair of hybrids at the first Renewable
Energy Rodeo and Symposium, held in early June in Fort Bliss, Texas.
...

Louisville bridges may be tolled to pay for new
projects
A bridge authority in Louisville, KY, has requested authority from the
federal government to convert three existing bridges into tollways.
Opposition to the proposal continues to swell. ... Louisville resident
Shawn Reilly, founder of a group called Say No to Bridge Tolls, says he
and others who are opposed to the idea of tolls will be in attendance.
"Our opposition is with tolls on the existing infrastructure on three
existing bridges," Reilly told Land Line Magazine. "For truckers, if
you're looking at going from Indianapolis to Nashville, you go through
Louisville ... The new bridges would have tolls on them as well, so
there would be no choice for anyone crossing the river." ...

Creative trucker beats speed-limiter ticket in Canada
Persistence and creativity have paid off so far for trucker Lee
Ingratta. The one-truck owner-operator from Gravenhurst, Ontario, has
captured the attention of the trucking community for the method he used
to beat a ticket for an alleged violation of the provincial law that
requires trucks to be equipped with speed-limiting devices. ...

If you're a trucker who has used Truckers Assist,
help your fellow truckers by reviewing it online: http://bit.ly/67NP4K
http://bit.ly/67NP4K

Are you a trucker using Cyber Clean(R)? Submit a
product review online.
How valuable in truck cleanliness is it?

New York bill would offer incentive to reduce idling
Truckers wouldn't have to sacrifice payload for cab comfort if a bill
nearing passage in the New York Senate advances to the governor's desk.
Other states have also acted recently to authorize the incentive.
Awaiting a vote on the Senate floor, the Assembly-approved bill would
increase the weight limit for large trucks equipped with idle-reduction
technology. Commercial vehicles equipped with auxiliary power units
would be authorized to weigh up to an additional 400 pounds. ...

Truck tolls to soar next two years in San Fran
One year from now, truckers will pay significantly more to cross
certain bridges in the San Francisco area. The current toll of $11.25
for a five-axle vehicle will increase 60 percent to $18 in 2011 and
another 39 percent to $25 in 2012. ...

Truck electricity services expand
Several companies are providing truck electrification services in a
market boosted by recent government grants, new or stricter idling laws
and trucker demand. Each company offers some electrification service,
such as heating and cooling, but what and how they offer services
varies and can include Internet, cable and block heater power. ...

Snow-free vehicle mandate passes in Connecticut
Connecticut is the latest state to pass legislation intended to get
tough with drivers who fail to clear snow and ice off their vehicles.
The rule applies to commercial and non-commercial vehicles. Despite
opposition from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and
countless truck drivers, Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed into law a bill that
permits police to pull over drivers whose vehicles are not cleared of
snow or ice. The Association and professional drivers have long opposed
what they say is a law that sets truckers up to fail. ... As a result,
once the rule is implemented, violators would face $75 fines for
failure to clear the wintry precipitation from their vehicles. The fine
would increase to as much as $1,000 for motorists if snow and ice
breaks free and results in injury or damage to another vehicle. The
same circumstances would result in truck drivers facing fines up to
$1,250. ...

NHTSA to evaluate fuel efficiency proposal for trucks
The DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is seeking
input and public comments on the possible environmental effects of
President Obama's proposed fuel-efficiency standard for heavy trucks.
...

Maryland tolls to vary with traffic volume
Five-axle trucks will be charged $1.50 per mile during peak times once
the Intercounty Connector opens later this year in Maryland. But
there's also a catch. The agency operating the tollway can adjust rates
on just 10 days notice to meet revenue projections. ... Five-axle
trucks will pay $8.50 during peak times, $6.80 during off-peak times,
and $3.40 overnight. Click here to view the rate chart, and make sure
to read the fine print. Back in the fall of 2009, officials reviewed
studies and estimated they could charge between $1.50 and $2.10 per
mile for heavy trucks during peak times. Even though the agency's
introductory toll rate is at the lower end of that spectrum, it may not
stay there for long. ...

Low carbon standard could hike gas and diesel prices
80 percent, study shows
The imposition of a nationwide Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) would
boost average U.S. gasoline and diesel prices by as much as 80 percent
within five years of the start of the program and up to 170 percent
within 10 years, according to a study issued Thursday by Charles River
Associates. Assuming a nationwide LCFS program is implemented in 2015
with gasoline prices at today's level, this would result in an average
national price for gasoline of nearly $5 per gallon in 2020 and close
to $7.50 a gallon by 2025, the study showed. ...

Bureau Offers Free Tyre Safety Pack To Truckers
The Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau are so concerned
by the casual attitude of many freight and delivery drivers to the
maintenance of their tyres (OK tires in their case) that they are
offering a free pack of useful information including tips on how to
properly maintain your tyres including a CD and DVD. The Bureau
understands the difficulties in accurately checking the condition and
pressures on a full set of eighteen wheels but point out the dangers of
not doing so. Interested drivers can obtain their free pack by e
mailing info@retread.org or ringing toll free from the US and Canada on
888-473-8732. ...

Md. announces toll rates for Intercounty Connector
Rush-hour drivers on the first segment of the Intercounty Connector
will pay about 25 cents a mile to use the highway when the road opens
later this year, and truckers will pay more than a dollar a mile. ...
Maryland Motor Truck Association President Louis Campion said the
reaction of truckers would vary, depending on their operating expenses.
A moving van carrying three or four employees might use the ICC to cut
time that otherwise would be spent in traffic on the Beltway, he said.
But a long-haul trucker carrying no passengers would do the math
differently and might stay off the toll road, he said. ...

Peterbilt delivers first tractor with PACCAR MX engine
Peterbilt Motors Co. Thursday celebrated an historic milestone with the
delivery of the first 2010 EPA certified PACCAR MX engine. ... The MX
engine has a horsepower range of 380hp-485hp and torque outputs up to
1,750 lb-ft with a displacement of 12.9 liters. This power range,
combined with excellent fuel efficiency, high reliability, durability,
lightweight design and low cost of ownership makes the MX an ideal
choice for both over-the-road and vocational applications, Jackson
said. ...

Man driving Honda tries to race 18-wheeler
Drag racing on the streets usually involves two mid-sized or compact
cars, but Tuesday afternoon, a Slidell policemen cited the drivers of a
Honda Accord and an 18-wheeler [Kenworth] tanker truck for drag racing
down Old Spanish Trail. ... Both men were cited for drag racing.
According to state law, the first violation for drag racing is a $175
fine or a 30 days in jail or both. ...

Yokohama names truck tire giveaway winner
Yokohama Tire Corp. has awarded eight Yokohama 703ZL drive tires and
two Yokohama 101ZL steer tires to an Ohio trucker as part of a recent
giveaway. Bill Britton of Orwell, Ohio, entered the contest at the
Mid-America Trucking Show, which was held this past March. ...

28th Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs(R) Rolls into
Historic Lexington, Va.
... The 28th annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs(R) competition will be held
June 10-12 at the LEE HI Travel Plaza, 2516 North Lee Highway,
Lexington, Va. The Shell Rotella SuperRigs(R) competition is the
premier truck beauty contest for actively working trucks.
Owner/operator truckers from across the United States and Canada will
compete for cash and prizes valued at approximately $25,000. ...

West Virginia 'anti-idling' rules take effect June 11
A new rule that takes effect this week in West Virginia is intended to
reduce the frequency of unnecessary idling of trucks. Starting Friday,
June 11, the anti-idling rule will apply to diesel-powered vehicles
weighing more than 10,000 pounds. Affected vehicles will be limited to
idling for no more than 15 minutes per hour. Violators would face fines
between $150 and $300. ...

Florida law authorizes heavier trucks, APU exemption
... Also included in the bill - HB1271 - is a provision allowing a
weight allowance for auxiliary power units. The maximum gross vehicle,
axle weight limits will be increased for large trucks equipped with
idle-reduction technology. Trucks equipped with APUs would be
authorized to weigh up to an additional 400 pounds. OOIDA Executive
Vice President Todd Spencer says the weight exemption removes the
disincentive that otherwise would keep truckers from using APUs. A
state analysis showed that adopting the weight exemption creates
greater uniformity between federal and state law. The change is
important to trucks and "would assist regulatory officials by
preventing enforcement ambiguities that could cause problems for
drivers during inspections." ...

Owner-ops challenge EOBR rule in court
... OOIDA says that before FMCSA moves forward with a broader mandate,
it must consider the costs, regulatory burden and whether the devices
have any "real effectiveness" on highway safety. "We're laying down a
marker in the court and saying 'show it, prove it,'" said OOIDA
executive VP Todd Spencer. ...

Only 4 of inspections random, says report
RAIR (Record Auditing Imaging and Retrieval) reports that many roadside
inspections are triggered by controllable behaviors such as improper
lane changes, speeding and visible maintenance problems. They say that
by avoiding these behaviors drivers are more likely to avoid
inspections Regarding CSA 2010, keeping down the number of inspections
is crucial because inspections lead to the identification of more
violations and violations raise ISS-D (Inspection Selection System with
Driver Conviction Data) scores, which lead to even more inspections,
states RAIR. ...

Road Check 2010 Begins, Some Drivers Say Troopers are
too Picky 6/7/10
... But some drivers say this hyped-up event is just a quick way to
bring in income, "Honestly, I think that it's income, it's revenues,
because they check a lot of things that they know they can find
something wrong with no matter how new the truck is, or how well it is
taken care of." Said 6-year driver Robert Cliett, who was passing
through Odessa today. Last year troopers took 22 percent of the
vehicles they inspected, off the roads for violations, but veteran
trucker McElroy supports the check saying, "I think it's important,
it's not a hassle, it's not a 30 minute deal, and if you keep your
truck up, you don't have anything to worry about." ...

Toll increases cause West Virginia Turnpike budget to
grow
... Back in July 2009, tolls for five-axle trucks increased from $4.75
to $6.25 on the West Virginia Turnpike while tolls for passenger
vehicles increased from $1.25 to $2. OOIDA leadership called it "a
terrible time to raise tolls" and said more trucks would be taking to
secondary roadways to avoid the tolls. ...

CVSA Roadcheck June 8-10
... The primary reasons cited by inspectors for placing vehicles and
drivers out of service continue to be brakes and logbooks,
respectively. ...

Kansas passes tax, fee increases for transportation
... The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association adamantly
opposes the conversion of non-tolled roads into toll facilities. ...
Also drawing truckers' attention is a plan to increase annual
registration fees for large trucks by $135. In 2013, the fee would
increase from $1,735 to $1,820. A year later the fee would rise to
$1,870. Vehicles weighing less than 12,000 pounds would not pay more.
...

If you have news about how professional truck drivers
can save money (directly or indirectly) please submit it for
publication on our Truckers
Savings News page. (Note: We do not accept commercials or
promotional pieces, just news.)

New Money Saving Resources on our Website

These are the articles we have published (besides the
reviews above) since our last email newsletter.

We look forward to having your input because our
website is designed to help truck drivers save money.

Since our last email newsletter, unfortunately, no
readers have made any
contributions to our site. We're waiting for yours.

We Answer Readers' Questions

One form on our site is specifically designated as the
place where drivers can ask questions: Ask
a Question. It was through this page that we recently
received this question and moved it to our Health
and Wellness page:

Truckers
Medical Insurance
Husband is completing his training miles and was wondering about good
medical insurance that doesn't cost alot....

Do All Our Readers Always Agree With Us?

Has all of the feedback we've received to date been
positive? Nope!

On many of our pages, you'll see something like what is
written in this box:

Each link points to the form on the Tier 2 page under
which that Tier 3 page is grouped. For example, if you have a different
opinion about one of our fuel island, restaurant or shower reviews, you
can submit your own through the form on our truck
stop page.

How Can We Better Serve You?

Is there a burning question that you have about how to
save money on the road?

Have you been burned financially on the road and --
although it may have been a bit embarrassing -- you wish that you could
warn other drivers not to repeat your specific experience?
(Remember, we have shared some of our bone-headed mistakes on our site,
so it's not like you'll be the first.)

If the number of unsolicited testimonials we receive is
any indication of the positive impact we're having in professional
truck drivers' lives, we think that we've struck a nerve.

We're not paid to give a positive or negative review of
anything -- and wouldn't accept a bribe even if one was offered.
(There's an old saying that we desire to always observe: not to distort
justice, not be partial, and not take a bribe -- because a bribe blinds
one's eyes.)

If you believe that our website, our news feed or our
email newsletter is valuable, would you please share it with a fellow
truck driver or those related to truckers? We surely would appreciate
it -- and we believe they will, too.